question for the boarders

i took out the snowboard today for the first time this season and fourth time ever. i'm not having any trouble linking turns, and getting down a blue run (slowly) is no sweat. here's the problem:
when riding straight (not turning) with a little speed, my back foot (i ride regular, not goofy) seems to be sliding forward slightly causing the front edge to catch and launching me. i try to fight it off, but that's the problem... i feel like i'm fighting the board instead of riding it. could the problem be the position of my feet (they're set up almost perpendicular to the board with toes out a little) or is it possible that my body position is causing it, or both? or... maybe i'm just a tard.
any help would be appreciated.

You can ride relatively straight on one edge or the other maybe start with that.
When I let it run flat I just let it run with more weight on back. Don’t think and let the board wonder if it wants.

I don't know much about this having picked it up last year, but I find that angling both binders forward a little helps, and try to dig your rear knee into the crook of your front knee. Kinda crank your back knee forward and keep pressure on it. These are tips I got from Gonz and it worked wonders for me.

you kinda always need to be on en edge, even if it looks/feels like you are going straight. hang out a bit on your toeside edge and you shouldn't have that problem. i try to carve everywhere, even on the flats and if i am going straight. dead flat board can be tricky...

Guess I’m an old fart, for reference I like 24 front 15 in back.

Quote:

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Originally posted by jibij
(they're set up almost perpendicular to the board with toes out a little)

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Riding flat is quite hard to learn. It's really like skiing powder, in that less is more - you just gotta get a feel and relax. Sounds like you're riding ducky, which isn't good for a beginner, especially trying to relax on flats. Crank both bindings foward ( the rear not as much as the front ) for now. The "knee" suggestion was right on - helps you carve when you get to that soon.

yea... i went duckfooted just because i didn't know any better and it was a comfortable way to stand on the board. i'll monkey with it. it's good to hear that riding flat isn't as easy as i assumed it should be. i'm going to try pointing them both a little forward and see what happens.
also... i'm using the stupid clicker bindings because i stole them off my daughters old board. i've got to get rid of those. with just a few days on a board i can already feel the slop in those things.
great advice... thanks all!

There could be a bunch of reasons for this, from a sidehill to you actually being retarded. Without seeing 'em, we're just guessing.

I don't think it's a stance angle thing. That's not going to make up for the fact you've only got 4 days under your belt.

Tap may be onto something with the hips thing. Try and keep your hips parallel to the board. Also try and bend both your knees the same amount. This should help equal out all forces.

As has been said, riding flat is pretty hard, unless you're on a totally flat area, which you hardly ever are.

Incedentally, I've switched to a bit of a duck-footed stance this season. I think it makes carving easier. I mean, if you're hips are supposed to be parrallel to the board, why have your feet pointing forward?

But then again, I suXor.

I say monkey around with it and keep at it. And don't forget: Snowboarding is Gay. ;)


J-

Yeah, get rid of the clickers. Not because the bindings suck (I really don't know), but the boots are almost as hard as ski boots. Jeez, a big reason to ride is walking around and hiking in comfy soft boots.

Yes, it is your body position.

first fix your bindings. they're killing you. take the clickers and throw them in the trash. then put on some strap bindings angled at least 10 degrees in the back and 20 in the front. going with even higher angles than that wont hurt.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO DAMAGE YOUR KNEES, GET RID OF THE DUCK FOOT STANCE!!!

the board probably wants to twist around because you have a little bit extra body wieght over the back foot (which is natural for someone starting out). putting more pressure on the back foot will make it want to go faster down the hill than the front foot.

fix this by: standing up taller, not holding your right hand back over the tail of the board, bending your ankles a little more. and taking the knee of your back leg and rotating it forward (towards your front knee, facing down the hill)

---Not that I'm a snowboarder or anytying ----